The Most Majestic Maritime Experience

Try this trip to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

By EVAGELOS SOTIROPOULOS on October 18, 2016

Photo Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia

As many Canadians were returning from vacation and preparing themselves for work and their children for school, my wife and I used the Labour Day long weekend to embark on a trip to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

We have been blessed to be able to visit several countries in three continents during the last few years. Unfortunately, with the exception of a short stay in Saskatoon for a friend’s wedding, and a visit to Vancouver before we made our way down the coast to California, our travels within Canada have been limited.

While we initially considered some rest and relaxation in the Caribbean, the threat of the Zika virus compelled us to change our plans — and are we ever grateful.

After landing in Sydney’s small airport, we made our way to the hotel for a quick recharge before departing for dinner in Inverness, with a short stop in Baddeck along the way. It was this scenic small town, home to the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, where at least three things became apparent.

The natural landscape and environment is both beautiful and breathtaking. The welcoming demeanour and friendly disposition of residents was marvellous (consistent with their reputation). Lastly, the Maritimes is a magnet for people around the world — we saw vehicles from every single province and about half of the U.S. states.

Our dinner that evening overlooking the Gulf of St. Lawrence highlighted yet another East Coast specialty: fresh fish and seafood.

As we made our way along Trans-Canada Highway 105 the following morning, we were energized and excited to explore the famous Cabot Trail. It did not disappoint.

My vocabulary is too poor to describe with exactitude the experience and splendour of the Cabot Trail. The winding roads, lush forests, remarkable trails and panoramic views of the water make the Cape Breton Highlands National Park bucket list worthy. I (half) jokingly told my wife that the federal government should make visiting the Cabot Trail a legal requirement for every Canadian, complete with tax deductions and subsidies to help cover the costs!

We eventually made our way to Nova Scotia’s capital, with a sojourn to Antigonish and a tour of St. Francis Xavier University. Our first stop in Halifax was at the Citadel, a national historic site in the heart of the city. Together with its natural environmental beauty, the Maritime provinces also offer remarkable history – an enticing combination for tourists.

We visited and saw a number of attractions in and around Halifax such as Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse (a must-see); for me, however, our tour of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 was moving —and timely given the ongoing political discussion around “Canadian values.”

It was Pier 21 where immigrants from around the world, including many of my own family members from Greece, first touched Canadian soil. It was Pier 21 where British babies were sent to escape bombings during the Second World War, where Holocaust survivors reached shores of safety, and where freedom-loving people first arrived before beginning to contribute and help build this great country of Canada.

Values such as love and joy, peace and patience, kindness and goodness, permeated the hearts and minds of an overwhelmingly number of Canadians then, just as they do today. Pier 21 literally opened the door of opportunity to almost one million immigrants between 1928 and 1971 — a door we in Canada are fortunate to be behind, and one that we should responsibly keep open to those less lucky than we.

The last leg of our trip took us to picturesque P.E.I. by means of the 18-kilometre long modern engineering marvel that is the Confederation Bridge. Welcomed by the Canadian and all provincial and territorial flags, we first made our way to Victoria-by-the-Sea, where we enjoyed conversing with locals and snacking on some scallops.

Following the roughly 30-minute drive to Charlottetown, we immediately started touring the compact yet celebrated downtown core including Province House (currently under restoration), Government House (think famous 1864 confederation photo), the majestic St. Dunstan’s Basilica and, of course, the historic waterfront.

From visiting the Green Gables Heritage Place to celebrate the world-renowned author Lucy Maud Montgomery, to enjoying the impressive beaches and indulging on some succulent lobster, it is no wonder why Prince Edward Island is a top tourist destination.

As celebrations for Canada’s 150th anniversary of Confederation kick into high gear, let us each explore and experience the vastness and great beauty of our country. Let us tour the Okanagan Valley wineries, backpack in the Northwest Territories, and go skiing in Québec. While all of Canada and its people have so much to offer, as many have known, and I just discovered, there’s something magical about the Maritimes.

Evagelos Sotiropoulos holds a B.A. and M.A. in political science from the University of Toronto.